GIFT   OF 
MAY  SELLMDEP_ 


SING  A  SONG  OF  SEASONS 


SING  A  SONG 


OF 


SEASONS 


By 
WILHELMINA  SEEGMILLER 

Author  of  "Little  Rhymes  for  Little  Readers"  and  "Other  Rhymes 
for  Little  Readers" 


Illustrated  by  the  Author 


RAND   McNALLY  &  COMPANY 

CHICAGO  NEW   YORK 


Copyright,  Jgi4, 
By  Rand,  McNally  &  Company 


C hi  ca  go 


Sing!      Sing! 

OING!     Sing! 

What  shall  I  sing? 
Of  Winter,  of  Autumn, 
Of  Summer,  of  Spring. 
Sing!     Sing! 


if 

'I 

11 


SPRING  PAGE 

Spring  Dreams 13 

Blow,  Winds,  Blow 14 

GooD-BY  TO  Winter 15 

A  Daffodil .  16 

Sunshiny  Showers 17 

The  Spring  Has  Come 18 

Spring 20 

May  Time 21 

A  Flower  Riddle 22 

Humming  Bee 23 

Possessions 24 

Reflections 25 

Hearts 27 

A  Happy  Word 28 

SUMMER 

One  Sweet  Lily 31 

Wishing 32 

Robin 33 

Tree  Windows 34 

7 


=^orfcr»0;^  ci 


PAGE 

Red,  Blue,  and  Gold 35 

O  Singing  Wind 37 

My  Lady's  Garden 38 

Why  Not? 39 

Lady  Wind 40 

Butterfly 41 

Snail,  Snail 42 

Ladybird 43 

Shadow  Pictures 45 

Awake! 46 

Twink!    Twink! 47 

Weeds 48 

Garden  Fairies 49 

If 50 

AUTUMN 

Autumn  Jewels 53 

Cucumber  Vines 54 

Fall  Gardens 55 

The  Lace  of  Queen  Anne 57 

A  Little  Seed 58 

Jolly  October 59 

Apple  Fragrance 60 

A  Windfall 61 

Milkweed  Seeds 62 

The  Rill 63 


PAGE 


Acorns 64 

Beechnuts 65 

The  Windy  Man 66 

Flying  South 67 

November 68 

WINTER 

Winter  Birds 71 

December 72 

Snow 73 

Chickadee 74 

Christmas  Trees 75 

Green  Things  Growing 76 

Thick  Fur  and  Feather 77 

Snow  Crystals 78 

When  Jack  Frost  Paints  the  Window  Pane    .  79 

Winter  Nests 81 

The  New  Moon 82 

The  Wish  Star 83 

The  Year 84 


Oprin^ 


'■■//v' 


\lUly\f 


Spring  Dreams 

'T^HOUGH  pines  and  firs  are  weighted  now 
-^     So  they  can  scarcely  sing, 
Though   chill    winds    blow,    and    snowflakes 
whirl, 
I'm  dreaming  dreams  of  spring. 

According  to  the  calendar 

The  winter  days  are  done; 
And  soon  the  icicles  will  drip 

And  snow  melt  in  the  sun. 

The  Spring  will  bid  her  flowers  appear. 
And  song  of  lark  and  thrush, 

Of  oriole  and  vireo, 

Will  break  the  winter  hush. 

Though  pines  and  firs  are  weighted  now 

So  they  can  scarcely  sing. 
Though   chill    winds   blow,    and    snowflakes 
whirl, 

I'm  dreaming  dreams  of  spring. 

13 


Blow,  Winds,  Blow! 


B 


LOW,  winds,  blow! 
What  if  the  trees  are  bare, 
There's  the  flurry  of  snow,  the  pond  locked, 
And  the  frost  still  in  the  air. 


Sing,  trees,  sing! 
'Way  up  on  the  topmost  bough; 
Where  the  tw^igs  make  lace  on  the  tree  crowns, 
The  buds  are  swelling  now. 

And  soon,  oh,  soon! 
Will  the  winged  keys  alight, 
And  the  tassels  swing  in  the  breezes 
And  take  to  airy  flight. 

For  now,  oh,  now! 
The  sap  is  running  high. 
And  the  days  of  song  and  blossom 
Are  swiftly  drawing  nigh. 


14 


Good^by   to  Winter 

GOOD-BY,  good-by  to  Winter, 
For  Winter's  almost  done, 
And  now  the  snow  is  melting 
In  patches  in  the  sun. 

The  Spring  has  sent  her  vanguards, 
The  pussy-willows  gray. 

So  up  the  land  she's  marching 
Dum,  dum,  de-dum,  de,  da! 


4      ^ 


J 


/ 


rif^^ 


15 


A  Daffodil 


A 


GOLDEN  cup 
With  a  golden  frill, 

And  golden  wings, 

Makes  a  daffodil. 


16 


Sunshiny  Showers 

^4    A     SUNSHINY  shower 

-^  Won't  last  half  an  hour," 
So  the  proverbs  say; 
When  the  sun  takes  pains 
To  shine  when  it  rains, 
We  lose  little  time  from  play. 

''The  April  showers 

Bring  the  May-time  flowers," 

So  the  wise  ones  say; 

But  the  sunshiny  showers 

Bring  us  springtime  flowers 

Before  the  first  of  May. 

A  sunshiny  shower, 

An  April  flower, 

A  rainbow  in  the  sky. 

And  a  bird  to  sing, 

''Spring,  Spring,  Spring,  Spring!" 

Oh,  who  is  so  gay  as  I? 

17 


O    The  Spring  has  Come 
0 

/^H,    the    Winter's   gone    away,    and    the 

^^         Spring's  in  green  array, 
And  the  Httle  brook  so  happy  is,  it  gurgles 
night  and  day. 

Now    with  a  cheery  song,  Robin   Redbreast 

hops  along. 
Finding    worms    and    bugs,    and    bugs    and 

worms  and  bugs  the  whole  day  long. 

There  are  babies  in   the  nest,   in  the  silver 

maple's  crest; 
So  hungry  they,  the  livelong  day,  that  Robin 

has  no  rest. 

18 


When  a  wandering  breeze  comes  by,  pink- 
flushed  apple  petals  fly 

And  drift  to  orchard  paths,  and  there  like 
snowdrifts  lie. 

Every  morning   shows  anew  sparkling  drops 

of  silver  dew 
That  glint,  and  gleam,  and  scintillate,  until 

up  in  the  blue 

The    sun  smiles    down    at    them,  when  each 

glinting,  gleaming  gem 
Evaporates    from    grassy    blade,    and    bud, 

and  flowTr,  and  stem. 

Oh,  the  Winter's  gone  away,  and  the  happy 

children  play; 
They   hop,    and    skip,   and    dance,    and   sing 

for  merriness  in  May. 


19 


T7.V^^3     (4^ 


Spring 


ONNY  are  the  hillsides 
And  the  flowering  dells 
Bonny  are  the  moorlands 
And  the  reaching  fells; 

Bonny  are  the  hedgerows; 

And  merry  song-birds  sing, 
'Mid  the  bonny  blooming, 
"Spring!  Spring!  Spring!" 


^mkK 


May  Time 


MAY  time,  gay  time! 
Away!  Away!  'Tis  play  time! 
In  and  out  the  rushes, 
Beneath  the  alder  bushes, 
The  laughing  water  rushes; 
From  throats  of  larks  and  thrushes 
The  glad  song  bursts  and  gushes; 
The  apple  orchard  blushes, 
The  thorn  to  rose-pink  flushes. 
May  time,  gay  time! 
Away!  Away!     'Tis  play  time! 
'Tis  May!      'Tis  May!      Away!  Away! 
Away! 


21 


^ 


K 


:^..'/ 


t^^J^ 


4 


',-^ 


y^iv? 


A  Flower  Riddle 

TT7HAT  happy  little  flower, 

'  ^     Any  May-time  day  or  hour, 
Like  a  yellow  disk  of  gold  may  be 
found,  found,  found? 


Oh,  it  turns  to  silver  gray, 
And  the  silver  blows  away; 
Then  no  flower  at  all  is  seen  on  the 
ground,  ground,  ground. 


22 


Humming  Bee 

TTUMMING  bee, 

Hum  songs  to  me. 
Hum  about  the  trees  that  look 
At  themselves  down  in  the  brook, 
While  the  brook  runs  babblingly. 
Singing,  singing  to  the  sea. 

Hum  about  the  elves  that  sup 
From  a  last  year's  acorn  cup. 
While  new  dishes  growing  show. 
Where  the  oak-tree  branches  blow. 

Hum  about  the  sparkling  lights 
That  the  fireflies  light  o'  nights, 
Making  turn  and  turn  about. 
Light  and  dark,  till  stars  go  out. 

Humming  bee. 

Hum  songs  to  me. 
23 


ossessions 


'T^HE  pines  have  long  needles, 
-^     The  maples  have  keys, 
The  ash  trees  have  paddles 
That  drift  in  the  breeze; 

The  poplars  have  tassels 

To  swing  in  the  parks, 

And  down  in  the  dingles 

Ferns  make  question  marks 


^«**^t9i/^ji#%  ,.|^ 


24 


Reflections 

LOVE  the  rain-wet  pavements 
They  double  all  the  trees,— 
The  oaks,  the  poplars,  elms. 
The  pines,  and  hickories. 


I 


And  when  the  clouds  go  sailing, 

Go  sailing  swiftly  by. 
You  see  them  sailing  lowly. 

And  see  them  sailing  high. 

And  when  a  dove  or  sparrow 
Goes  flying  to  the  blue. 

You  watch  it  flying  upward. 
And  flying  downward  too. 

And  if  by  happy  fortune 

A  friend  you  chance  to  meet, 
Like  tree,  and  cloud,  and  sparrow 

He's  doubled  on  the  street. 

25 


11    i.^^ 


Ai 


pT^he  pinkDicentr 

I.M  ^«»^tli  hearts  ol 


..c.=^ 


26 


Hearts 


'T^HE  pink  Dicentra  is  a  plant 
^     With  hearts  of  many  sizes, 
For  hearts  quite  large  and  little  too, 
The  pink  Dicentra  prizes. 

And  so  she  strings  from  large  to  small, 
Each  pretty  heart  suspended, 

Till  with  a  very  tiny  heart 

The  chain  of  hearts  is  ended. 


27 


A  Happy  Word 

npHIS  morn   I   heard  a  happy    word. 

'Twas  warbled  in  a  tree, 
And  sung  by  many  birds  in  turn, 
Until  it  made  a  glee. 

'Twas  caught  up  by  a  tuneful  brook 

That  with  a  meter  free 
Took  it  singing,  singing  on. 

In  greeting  to  the  sea. 

The  word !    The  word !    And  what  was  it? 

Ah,  that  I  do  not  know; 
I  only  know  it  happy  was, 

My  heart  went  singing  so. 


28 


iJt 


ummer 


nf§  turned  backit|f itili  tuA^ 


One  Sweet  Lily 

TT^VERY  morn,  when  one  arises, 
^^  In  the  garden  are  surprises, 
For  strange  things  can  happen  nightly 
In  a  place  where  flowers  bloom  brightly. 

'Mid  its  green  leaves,  tall  and  stately, 
One  sweet  lily  has  blown  lately. 
One's  turned  back  its  petals  curly, 
And  two  buds  will  blossom  surely. 

Springtime  brought  a  daffodilly, 
Summer  has  a  garden  lily; 
Tell  me  how,  by  rime  or  reason. 
Each   plant  knows  its  blooming  season. 


31 


Wishi 


mg 

I   WISH  I  were  a  daisy,  a  daisy,  a  daisy, 
I  wish  I  were  a  daisy,  with  a  golden  eye 
bright. 
Nodding  in  the  grasses; 
The  happy  lads  and  lasses 
A-Juning  in  the  meadow  would  spy  me  with 

delight. 
I    wish    I    were    a    pink    rose,    a    pink    rose, 

a  pink  rose, 

A  sweet  brier  pink  rose,  blooming  on  a  spray; 

The  butterflies  would  kiss  me, 

The  honeybees  would  miss  me, 

When    pink    petals    loosening    would    flutter 

light  away. 
I  wish  I  were  a  sparrow,  a  sparrow,  a  sparrow, 
A  sweet  song  sparrow  singing  in  a  tree; 
My  throat  I'd  swell  with  pleasure, 
And  without  stint  or  measure 
I'd  carol  forth  my  rapture  in  glad  song  free. 

But  I  may  love  the  daisy,  the  daisy,  the  daisy, 
I  may  love  the  daisy  with  its  golden  eye. 
And  I  may  love  and  share  in 
The  joy  of  rose  and  birdkin. 
And   so   I   wish   for    nothing,    nothing,   noth- 
ing,  I. 

32 


Robi 


in 


ROBIN  rises  early, 
At  the  dawn  of  day. 
Robin  rises  early; 

And  what  does  Robin  say? 

Robin  calls,  ''Good  morning! 

Wake,  and  hasten  up! 
Dewy  diamonds  glisten 

In  each  flower  cup! 

"Grasses  all  are  beaded. 

Buds  of  yesterday 
Now  are  open  roses. 

Nodding  every  way." 

33 


Tree  Windows 


TT70NDR0US  things  you  often  see 
Through  the  windows  of  a  tree,- 
Steeples  pointing  to  the  sky, 
Happy  birds  a-flying  by, 
Housetops,  and  tall  chimneys,  too, 
And  white  clouds  high  in  the  blue. 


34 


Red,  Blue,  and  Gold 

TT7HAT  is  red,  red,  red? 

A  rose  by  the  garden  wall  — 
A  dear  little  rose  and  a  sweet  little  rose 
That  grows  on  a  rose  tree  tall. 

What  is  blue,  blue,  blue? 

The  sky  on  a  summer  day; 

And  the  pretty  brook  that  singing  goes. 

Is  blue  as  it  runs  on  its  way. 

And  what  is  gold,  gold,  gold? 
The  sun  that  rides  on  high, 
The  daisy's  eye  in  the  meadow, 
And  the  wings  of  a  butterfly. 


35 


^3^**^, 

-*'%,i^^ 


1       ,^i 


fffjhave  seen  the  daisies  nod  toyou  % 


toyou. 


O  Singing  Wind 

T   HAVE  seen  the  daisies  nod  to  you, 
^   And  bow  down  in  the  sod  to  you, 

O  Singing  Wind! 
Do    they    whisper,    ''Come    and    play," 

to  you? 
Please  tell  me  what   they   say  to   you, 

O  Singing  Wind! 

I  have  seen  great  white  clouds  sail   for 

you, 
And  little  white  clouds  trail  for  you, 

O  Singing  Wind! 
The  blue  sky  is  a  sea  for  you. 
Where  cloud  ships  all  sail  free  for  you, 

O  Singing  Wind! 

I  have  seen  the  tree  leaves  kiss  for  you, 
And  dance  in  joy  and  bliss  for  you, 

O  Singing  Wind! 
And  when  they  say   **Good-by"  to  you, 
I've  heard  them  gently  sigh  for  you, 

O  Singing  Wind! 

^  37 


^^ 


My  Lady's  Garden 

T  TOW  does  my  lady's  garden 
^  ^     grow, 

Garden  grow,  garden  grow. 
How  does  my  lady's  garden  grow. 

All  of  a  summer  morning? 

Pinks  and  phlox  and  roses  blow, 
Roses  blow,  roses  blow, 

Pinks  and  phlox  and  roses  blow, 
All  of  a  summer  morning. 

Lily  bells  the  bees  beguile. 
Bees  beguile,  bees  beguile 

Lily  bells  the  bees  beguile. 
All  of  a  summer  morning. 

Happy  pansies  smile  and  smile. 
Smile  and  smile,  smile  and 
smile, 
Happy  pansies  smile  and  smile, 
All  of  a  summer  morning. 
38 


Why  Not? 


TT7HY   may   not   I   love  the  pansies, 
^  ^  And  why  may  not  pansies  love  me? 
The  pansies  are  smiling  and  happy, 
And  I  am  as  gay  as  can  be. 

Why  may  not  I  love  rosemary, 
And  why  may  not  rosemary  love  me? 
We  both  love   the   nook  in  the  garden 
By  the  side  of  the  seckel  pear  tree. 

And  why  may  not  I  love  the  lilies, 
And  why  may  not  lilies  love  me? 
They  furnish  sweet  nectar  for  honey, 
And  I  love  the  hum  of  the  bee. 


39 


Lady  Wind 


A  T  night,  when  my  Lady  Wind  comes  by, 
^  ^  She  says,    *'0h,  sing  for  me,  trees!" 
And  they  sing  **Oo-oo!     Oo-oo-oo!" 
When    she    fans    with    her    lullaby 
breeze. 

**Oo-oo-oo!     Oo-oo-oo!" 

Then   she   rocks  the   birds   in   their 
nests. 
While  the  little  leaves  join  in  the  cradle 
song 
From   the   trunks    to    the   tall    tree 
crests. 

**  Oo-oo-oo!     Oo-oo-oo!" 

And  the  stars  look  down  to  see 
The  sleeping  birds  in  their  rocking  nests, 

Lady  Wind,  and  a  singing  tree. 


40 


Butterfly 

BUTTERFLY, 
How  I  try, 
As  you  hie, 
To  draw  nigh; 

But  you  go, 
Swift,  then  slow, 
To  and  fro; 
And  I  know 

I  may  run. 
Just  for  fun, 
In  the  sun, 
Till  day's  done. 


41 


Snail,  Snail 


SNAIL,  Snail,  you  are  always  at  home. 
Snail,  Snail,  where  'er  you  may  roam, 
Snail,  Snail,  for  you  carry  about. 
Snail,  Snail,  your  whole  house  on  your  route. 

42 


Ladybird 


T^EAR  Ladybird,  in  England 
-*-^   They  call  you  ''Burnie  Bee"; 
The  children  there  say,  ** Bless  you, 
When  will  you  wedding  be?" 

But  here  we  always  tease  you; 

We  bid  you  hasten  home, 
And  tell  you  of  your  house  afire. 

Whene'er  you  chance  to  roam. 


43 


.,/ 


.Hc^ 


1^1  bird  on  a  lacey  spray  — ^— ^_^_<, 
1  'ic^  Makes  a  bird  on  a  spray  in  shado^?i^ 


Shadow  Pictures 

/^NE  beauty  makes  another. 
^^  A  happy,  blooming  rose 
Makes  a  shadow  rose  beside  it, 

That  sways  when  the  sweet  air  blows. 

The  meadow  grass  and  daisies 

By  the  pathway  may  be  found, 

Whene'er  the  golden  sun  shines. 

Making  pictures  on  the  ground. 

And  sometimes,  teeter-totter, 

A  bird  on  a  lacy  spray 
Makes  a  bird  on  a  spray  in  shadow; 

I  saw  one  yesterday. 


45 


Awake! 


A    ROSE  flush  bathes  the  morning  skies, 
-^— ^  Awake! 

The   lark   sings  as   it   heavenward  flies, 

''Daybreak!" 
Soft  tremors  through  the  grasses  run. 
And  sleepy  flowers,  one  by  one, 
Lift  heads  in  greeting  to  Lord  Sun. 

Awake! 

And  now  the  sun  resplendent  rides. 

Awake! 
He  calls  to  hills  and   valleys  wide, 

**  Daybreak!" 
The  dew-gem's  glistening  on  the  rose. 
The  lily  does  her  heart  disclose. 
O'er  all  the  earth  glad  sunshine  flows. 

Awake! 


46 


Twink!  Twink! 

^T^WINK,  twink,  twink,  twink, 

^     Twinkity,  twinkity,  twink! 
The  fireflies  light  their  lanterns. 
Then  put  them  out  in  a  wink. 

Twink,  twink,  twink,  twink. 

They  light  their  lights  once  more. 
Then  twinkity,    twinkity,  twink,  twink. 

They  put  them  out  as  before, 

Twink,  twink,  twink,  twink, 

I  would  draw  you  a  light  or  two, 
But  I  have  no  golden  pencil; 

With  a  black  it  is  hard  to  do. 


47 


Weeds 


THE  weeds  are  very 
Beautiful 
When  gentle  breezes 

Blow  them, 
And  golden  sunshine 

Kisses  them; 
I'm  getting  now  to 
Know  them. 

The  ragweed,  bindweed, 

Milkweed,  dock, 
The  velvet  weed,  and 

Purslane, 
Stramonium,   catnip. 

Shepherd's  purse, 
Teasel,  poke. 

And  vervain. 

The  weeds  are  happy 

In  their  life 
As  plants  in  garden 

Closes, 
And  dear  to  butterfly 

And  bee 
As  mignonette 

And  roses. 

48 


Garden  Fairies 

THE  garden's  full  of  fairies; 
They  have  a  happy  time. 
Up,  up  the  strings  of  glories, 

They  climb,  and  climb,  and  climb, 

And  then  by  ones  and  couples. 
And  three,  and  four,  and  five, 

As  if  the  grass  were  water, 
They  gayly  dip  and  dive. 

They  climb  the  stalks  of  roses, 

And  hide  in  hollyhocks; 
They  play  tag  'round  the  larkspur, 

And  teeter  on  the  phlox. 

The  garden's  full  of  fairies; 

They  dance  and  sing  and  cheer. 
But  when  you  go  to  the  garden, 

They  all  just  disappear. 


49 


If 


TF  I  were  a  gnome  in  a  forest  home 
^   Where  the  trees  grow  thick  and  tall; 
If  I  were  a  naiad,  in  the  watery  shade 

Of  a  tumbling  waterfall; 
If  I  were  a  fairy,  with  a  dwelling  airy 

In  a  ferny,  flowery  dell; 
Or  a  shining  mermaid,  in  a  salt-sea  glade 

Or  a  deep-down  ocean  dell; 
If  ifs  could  come   true,  oh,    I    know,    don't 
you. 

That  we'd  laugh  and  leap  for  joy? 
But   the   gnome    and    naiad    airy,    and    the 
mermaid,  and  the  fairy 

Might  like  to  be  a  girl  or  boy. 


50 


eAt 


ututnn 


"^11©  siiinaadhi  hm  it§  iimpis^a^m. 


i^^ceiisyos©  mm  to  €m^W£n. 


i&;..:a^.„:^  .^^;..  ^i^,r.>i:Mmk'^:V^:.  \Xi 


Autumn  Jewels 

A  LL  up  the  autumn  hillsides, 
-^  ^  And  down  the  valley  ways, 
And  by  the  singing  rivers. 

The  jewels  of  autumn  blaze. 

The  sumach  has  its  garnets. 
Rose  hips  to  corals  turn; 

On  mountain  ash  and  alder 
Blood  red  the  rubies  burn. 

And  beads  are  on  the  linden, 
And  beads  are  on  the  thorn, 

And  beads  the  brier  and  woodbine 
And  trailing  grape  adorn. 

With  lapis,   sard,  and  jasper. 
With  amethyst  and  jade. 

The  trees  and  shrubs  and  vinings 
Of  autumn  are  arrayed. 


53 


Cucumber  Vines 

^  I  ^HE  vines  of  the  cucumber 
■^     Have  blossoms  golden  bright; 
They  bloom  in  starry  splendor. 
Till  frost  puts  out  their  light. 

I  like  the  starry  blossoms, 

I  like  cucumbers,  too; 

I  like  cucumber  pickles 

When  autumn  days  are  through. 

54 


Fall  Gardens 

'T^HE  gardens  are  amazing, 

-^     The  flowers  are  burning, 
blazing — 

Nasturtiums  gay  are  growing, 

And  salvias  red  are  blowing; 

The  marigolds  are  flaming, 

The  dahlias'  notice  claiming; 

Of  color  spread 

In  the  zinnia  bed 
Who'd  undertake  the  naming? 

The  flowers  in  masses  tumble. 
The  bees  go  rumble,  bumble; 
The  morning-glory  vining 
Is  twining,  twining,   twining; 
'Way  up  to  second  stories 
Are  glories,  glories,  glories. 
That  gladly  blow, 
Ere  comes  the  snow, 
Ere  comes  the  fall  frost  hoary. 

55 


nd  each  stem  s  aest  makes  a  bird  s  nest 
When  its  white  blooming  ends,  uu 


The  Lace  of  Queen 
Anne 

T    IGHT  and  airy 

^^  As  a  fairy, 
Sprung  in  leafage  of  green 

On  the  highway 

And  the  byway, 
The  queen's  lace  is  seen, 

To  the  hillside 

And  the  rillside 
Its  beauty  it  lends, 

And  each  stem's  crest 

Makes  a  bird's  nest 
When  its  white  blooming  ends. 


57 


A  Little  Seed 


^HERE  was  a  little  seed; 
^     It  was  very  small,  indeed, 
But  it  made  a  little  plant,  and  it  grew, 
grew,  grew; 
The  plant  became  a  vine. 
It  had  blossoms  eighty-nine. 
While  the  tale  is  very  strange,  it  is  true, 
true,  true. 


Jolly  October 

THE  pears  now  are  mellow, 
The  pumpkins  are  yellow, 
Ripe  chestnuts  are  falling, 
The  late  birds  are  calling. 
To  gold,  leaves  are  turning. 
Great  bonfires  are  burning, 
The  pecker  is  drumming, 
The  bees  still  go  humming, 
The  sunshine  comes  streaming- 
Ah,  can  folk  be  dreaming? 
Why  say  they  you're  sober, 
You  jolly  October? 


59 


Apple  Fragrance 

HAD  I  a  hundred  noses 
I'd  use  them,  every  one, 
To  smell  the  golden  apples 
When  they're  kissed  by  the  autumn  sun, 

60 


A  Windfall 


T  TPON  the  tree  s  high,  rounded  crest 
^^    The  golden  apples  grow  the  best, 
For  there  the  sun  first  kisses  them, 
And  makes  each  one  a  blushing  gem. 

As  I  can't  reach  high  in  the  tree, 
The  good  wind  loosens  fruit  for  me; 
And  in  the  mornings  oft  I  find. 
The  wind's  been  very,  very  kind. 

Most  autumn  days,  when  breakfast's  done, 

I  run  out  in  the  golden  sun. 

And  visit  some  big  apple  tree 

To  find  what  the  wind  has  done  for  me. 


61 


'.  y^^'  'i 


^Hi^ 


^^i 


# 


t 


t>i^'; 


^^0^-"^ 


''/Am^- 


.^M|^\'~- 


Milkweed  Seeds 

A  S  white  as  milk, 
^^^  As  soft  as  silk, 

And  hundreds  close  together; 
They  sail  away. 
On  an  autumn  day, 

When  windy  is  the  weather. 


62 


The  Rill 


T 


HE  clouds  sail  swift 
And  the  clouds  sail  high, 
As  they  pass  o'er  the  red-gold  hill; 
And  the  leaves  drop  red, 
And  the  leaves  drop  gold, 
And  they  run  with  the  running  rill 

And  the  rill  sings  high 
And  the  rill  sings  low. 

Of  the  ships  on  the  distant  sea, 
Where  the  tide  runs  in. 
And  the  tide  runs  out, 

And  the  gull  soars  high  and  free. 

And  I  would  laugh. 

And  I  would  run. 
With  the  rill  to  the  shining  sea; 

But  if  I  were  there, 

They  would  miss  me  here, — 
The  reeds,  and  the  willow  tree. 

63 


A 


corns 


A  NY  acorn  in  its  cup 
^  ^  May  spread  branches  out  and  up: 
Any  acorn  on  the  tree 
May  some  day  a  king  oak  be. 

64 


Beechnuts 

T~^ID  you  gather  beechnuts 
^^-^   When  you  were  a  girl? 
Oh,  when  I  gather  beechnuts 
I'm  happy  as  an  earl. 

Beech  burrs  are  rough  and  pricky, 
But  when  there  comes  a  frost 

They  open,  and  their  treasures 
Upon  the  breeze  are  tossed. 

When  nuts  are  scattered  broadcast, 
And  lying  brown  and  thick, 

I  sit  right  down  among  them 

And  pick,  and  pick,  and  pick. 

The  leaves  above  are  golden, 

The  leaves  beneath  are  brown, 

And  beechnuts  from  above  me 
Drop,  drop,  drop  down. 


65 


The  Windy  Man 

TTINKITY,  winkity,  pinkity,  pan! 

^  ^   How  do  you  like  the  Windy  Man? 

**Wo-oo-oo!"  he  sings  as  he  goes, 

And  down  from  the  trees  the  leaves  he  blows. 

The  nuts  go  pittery,  pittery,  pat, 
The  reeds  and  the  rushes  bow  down  flat, 
The  ripples  run,  and  they  race  to  shore, 
When  the  Windy  Man  strides  o'er  the  water 
floor. 

Hinkity,  winkity,  pinkity,  pan! 

How  do  you  like  the  Windy  Man? 

''Wo-oo-oo!"  he  sings  as  he  goes, 

And  everything  slams,  and  bangs,  and  blows. 

Hinkity,  winkity,  pinkity,  pan! 
How  do  you  like  the  Windy  Man? 


66 


Flying  South 

THE  birds  go  flying,  flying  by 
Above  the  fir-tree  steeple, 
And  soon  they'll  sing  their  happy 
songs, 
'Tis  said,  for  southern  people. 

The  bees  have  left  the  garden  ways; 

There's  no  buzz  of  arriving; 
They've  stored  their  honey  for  the 
year 

And  now,  I  guess,  they're  hiving. 

And  soon,  oh,  soon,  when  leaves  are 
blown 

And  snow  lies  all  a-glitter, 
We  shall  not  have  a  song  or  hum, 

But  just  the  sparrow's  twitter. 

I'm  glad  tne  sparrow  stays  behind, 
With  barren  eaves  contented; 

If  he  should  southward  go,  I'm  sure 
He'd  sorely  be  lamented. 

67 


^ 


N 


ovember 


ATOVEMBER  is  earth's  resting  time; 
-^  ^    The  corn  is  bound  in  shocks^ 
And  overhead  late-lingering  birds 

To  new  climes  fly  in  flocks; 
The   calm   pools  left   by   autumn   rains 

Are  mirrors  for  the  sky, 
And  in  their  cool,  sweet  restfulness 

The  bare  tree  branches  lie. 


68 


m 


inter 


^ 


:'w^ 


w 


IH 


B 


0  all  the  birds  to  the  som 
No!  No!  O.no!  o. 


O  O        DO 


Winter  Birds 

Do  all  the  birds 
To  the  southlands  go? 
No! 
No! 

Oh,  no! 
Chickadee, 
Sparrow, 
Bunting, 
Crow 
Care  not  a    whit 
When  the  wild  winds  blow. 
They  care  not  a  whit, 
They're  sad  not  a  bit, 
They  think  naught  of  it, 
When  the  wild  winds  blow. 


71 


^1.>A>  I  llfl" 


mcmw^'-^-:,m.m^ 


^i- '/•32L-.^M?Sim-.. 


ia,-?^~-*s"?*'rjird 


D 


ecember 


T^ECEMBER  trees 
-*-^   Show  traceries 
Clear  cut  against  the  sky; 

Dead  leaves  are  guests 

In  empty  nests, 
Or  'neath  snow  carpets  lie; 

But  still  the  green 

Of  hemlock's  seen, 
And  anthems  still  are  mine, 

Of  pointed  fir, 

And  juniper, 
Of  balsam,  spruce,  and  pine. 


^'y*^^4i;m-v-^'^^m^i 


■^^^iliM-iUiii^ 


72 


onow 

SOFT  flakes  of  snow 
Like  feathers  blow, 
Then  settle  languidly 

On  every  twig, 

And  every  sprig, 
Till  vine,  and  shrub,  and  tree 

Are  decked  in  white. 

And  in  sunlight 
The  spangles  sparklingly 

Smile  at  the  sun, 

Till  every  one 
A  diamond  seems  to  be. 


73 


Chickadee 


]VTOW  the  tall  trees  shake  and  shiver; 
^  ^    On  the  pond,  and  lake,  and  river 
Winter's  laid  an  icy  finger. 
Some  brave  birds  have  dared  to  linger. 
And  they  sing  quite  cheerily, 
''Chick-a-dee-dee,  chick-a-dee, 
Chick-a-dee-dee-dee ! 
Dee-dee 
Dee-dee 
Chick-a-dee, 
Chick-a-dee-dee-dee ! " 


74 


Christmas  Trees 

TT7HAT  sings  the  breeze 
^  ^     To  the  wee  fir  trees? 
**0  little  trees,  grow  high, 

For  far  away, 

On  a  Christmas  day. 
They  may  need  you,  by  and  by." 

And  the  golden  sun 

On  every  one 
Shines  warm,  and  kind,  and  bright, 

And  tells  each  tree 

It  may  one  day  be 
Aglow  with  candle  light. 

And  the  moon  above 

Shines  down  in  love, 
And  the  stars  sing  night  by  night: 

"Peace,  good  will  to  men! 

Oh,  grow,  and  then 
You  may  be  crowned  by  a  Christ  star 
bright." 

75 


reen 


Thi 


mgs   orowmg 


TT7INTER  has  its  green  things  growing; 
^  ^     Pines  care  not  for  frost  or  snowing, 
Beautiful  is  arbor  vitse. 
Balsam,  fir,  and  spruce  make  quite  a 
Posy  when  white  snow  is  gleaming; 
When  of  Christmas  time  we're  dreaming, 
Winter  gives  us  berries  jolly, 
Mistletoe,  and  crimson  holly. 


76 


Thick  Fur  and   Feather 


T 


HICK  fur  and  feather 
Help  in  cold  weather 
The  squirrel  and  chickadee-dee; 
The  foxes  and  rabbits 
Just  thicken  their  habits 
When  winds  from  the  northlands  blow- 
free. 

Such  simplicity! 

How  fine  it  must  be, 
As  the  new  seasons  begin, 

To  suit  fur  or  feather 

To  warm  or  cold  weather, 
By  changing  to  thick  or  to  thin. 


77 


>now 


Crystal 


T  TOW  I  love  to  see  them  blow, 
-^  ^  Airy  crystals  of  the  snow! 
Each  one  like  a  blossom  fair 
Dropping  from  the  upper  air. 

And  when  snowy  flakes  you  pass 
'Neath  a  magnifying  glass, 
You  can  see  the  airy  lines 
Of  the  fairylike  designs. 


78 


When  Jack  Frost  Paints 
the  Windowpane 

THE  ferns  grow  in  the  woodland  dells, 
The  streams  wind  through  the  moors 
and  fells, 
The  forests  lift  tree-columns  high, 
And  leafy  crests  wave  'gainst  the  sky 
On  mountain  side  and  spreading  plain,— 
When  Jack  Frost  paints  the  windowpane. 

The  castles  rise  with  turrets  tall, 

And  battlement,  and  moat,  and  wall. 

As  fair  as  castles  ever  seen 

As  home  of  prince,  or  king,  or  queen 

Who  dwell  in  palace  halls  in  Spain,— 

When  Jack  Frost  paints  the  windowpane. 

Sometimes  you  view  the  rolling  sea. 
When  waves  roll  high  and  winds  blow  free, 
With  stately  ships  with  anchor  cast. 
Or  sails  full  spread  before  the  blast; 
Oh,  many  things  are  pictured  plain,— 
When  Jack  Frost  paints  the  windowpane. 

79 


p^J'jKen  a  nest  you  £n(ido  you  ]^n..:^^^  what  kind 
I    '::]    OHittla  tird  loved  kles^t?  o  ooe  c 

Vi  iilV 


80 


Winter  Nests 

T/^OU  oft  may  see,  in  a  winter  tree, 

-^     A  woven  basket  nest. 
When  a  nest  you  find,  do   you  know  what 
kind 
Of  little  bird  loved  it  best? 

Do  you  know  the  song  that,  the  whole  day 
long, 
Was  caroled  glad  and  free, 
While  a  brooding  breast   kept   warm   in  the 
nest 
Eggs  one  and  two  and  three? 

Oh,  eggs  take  wing  to  soar  and  to  sing. 
And  little  birds  leave  the  nest; 

When  a   nest   you   find,  do  you   know   what 
kind 
Of  little  bird  loved  it  best? 


81 


The  New  Moon 

nr^HE  new  moon  is  a  slight  moon, 

-^     Of  sheeny,  shiny  gold, 
But  the  moon  will  be  a  round  moon 
When  the  little  moon  grows  old. 

A  ring  we  now  see  faintly; 

A  round  moon  there  will  be; 
Then  I'll  smile  up  at  the  moon  man, 

And  he'll  smile  down  at  me. 


82 


The  Wish  Star 

'T^HE  twinking,  winking  wish  star, 
-^     On  a  winter's  night, 
The  first  one  in  the  gloaming 

To  light  its  little  light, 
Hears  many,  many  wishes 

Of  many,  many  kinds. 
And  sometimes,  too,  the  wishes 

The  twinking  wish  star  finds 
So  very  contradictory 

They  can't  all  granted  be. 
When  folks  wish  things  just  opposite, 

The  wish  star  thinks,  ''Dear  me!" 


83 


The  Year 


npHE  year  is  a  circle. 
■^    One,  two,  three,  and  four 
The  seasons  that  make  it, 
And  o'er,  o'er,  and  o'er 
Each  follows  another. 
So  therefore  'tis  plain 
That  when  winter's  ending, 
Spring's  coming  again. 


84 


OTHER  BOOKS  BY   WILHELMINA  SEEGMILLER 


r^AISY,  daisy,  tell  to  me, 

When  I  'm  grown  what  shall  I  be? 
Rich  man,  poor  man,  beggar  man, — thieff 
Oh,  that  passes  all  belief! 

Daisy,  daisy,  I  '11  be  good, 
Just  as  every  grown-up  should. 
Always  do  the  thing  I  ought! 
I  will — sometimes — like  as  not! 

From    Link    Rhymes  for    Little    Readers,    by    Wilhelmina   Seegmiller 

With  illustrations  by  Ruth  Mary  Hallock 

Price,  $1.00 

RAND    McNALLY   &    COMPANY 


OTHER  BOOKS  BY  WILHELMINA  SEEGMILLER 


REDBREAST  IN  THE  CHERRY  TREE 

OEDBREAST,  in  the  cherry  tree, 

Robin  red,  it  seems  to  me 
That  you  love  the  cherries  so 
You  eat  all  a  tree  can  grow. 
You  love  cherries,  so  do  I. 
Please  leave  some  for  cherry  pie! 


From     Other   Rhymes  for   Little   Readers, 

by   Wilhelmina  Seegmiller 

With  illustrations  by  Ruth  M.  Hallock. 

Price,  $1.25 


RAND    McNALLY    &  COMPANY 


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